Post-Emergent Herbicides Buyer's Guide

This page is a general buyer's guide for post-emergent herbicides. Using the methods or products suggested, you can have a better understanding and control of weeds with post-emergent herbicides. Follow this guide and use the recommended methods or products and we guarantee 100% improvement of weeds within your turf and a better knowledge of which post-emergent herbicides to buy.

If there is one thing no one wants to see in a garden it is weeds. Weeds are the most persistent pests for even the most professional landscapers. You can try to hand pull these weeds, but this can take hours. For faster results and less manual labor, we recommend a post-emergent herbicide. Post-Emergent Herbicides attacks weeds that are already present within your yard.

What are Post-Emergent Herbicides?

Post-Emergent Herbicides are chemical products that targets broadleaf weeds and some species of grassy weeds emerging from your turf. Whereas Pre-Emergent Herbicides are used to to work on weeds that are still germinating underneath the turf and have not appeared.

Post-Emergent Herbicides are a common product to use for homeowners, because pre-emergent herbicides are not applied at the correct time of year. This results in weeds germinating in your yard. Post-Emergent Herbicide products will contain a mixture of active ingredients that will terminate the selected weed and ensure for several days (depending on the label) that it does not grow back.

Types of Post-Emergent Treatments

Just as there are several species of broadleaf and grassy weeds in the world there are several types of post-emergent herbicides. Understanding the type of weeds you are trying to eliminate is key to choosing a post-emergent herbicide. Each herbicide products aims to kill a select or wide variety of weeds within your yard, so understanding the type of weed present in your turf is essential. Another result of choosing the wrong type of post-emergent herbicide is unintentional damage to your grass. Choose the best post-emergent herbicide product that suits your lawn and weeds needs.

Systemic VS. Contact Post-Emergent Herbicides

The main difference between systemic and contact post-emergent herbicides is the way they destroy weeds. Systemic herbicides need time to be absorbed into the plant for maximum control. This ensures that the weed and its roots are killed. Systemic post-emergent herbicides work best to ensure that broadleaf and grassy weeds do not return again. Contact post-emergent herbicides kill weeds on contact once it touches the exposed part of the plant. These types of herbicides are used on annual and smaller weeds.

Selective VS. Non-Selective Post-Emergent Herbicides

Selective herbicides are designed to kill or control certain weeds in areas without destroying any surrounding grass. Non-selective herbicides are more powerful, and are used for a broad control of weeds, but they usually kill any plants, ornamental plants, flowers, and grass it comes into contact with. Non-selective herbicides are best for large scale applications whereas selective is ideal to control small spot applications so to avoid damaging any unnecessary plants.

Liquid VS. Granular Post-Emergent Herbicides

The difference between liquid and granular post-emergent herbicides is the method of mixing. As the name suggests, liquid post-emergent herbicides needs to be mixed with water whereas granular post-emergent herbicides just needs to be placed in a spreader to be used. Plants treated with liquid herbicides need to be properly coated until the point of runoff to ensure an effective control over the weed. For best results, granular herbicides need to be applied when the surface of weeds leaves are wet to ensure the product does not fall off. Application with granular herbicides are best done in the early morning when foliage are still moist from morning dew. Distribution of liquid herbicides can be made when the weeds leaves are wet or dry which makes it a more easier application. While there are liquid herbicides to be used, we find that granular herbicides are more economical and powerful in controlling weeds.

When to Apply Post-Emergent Herbicides

As with any lawn care program, application of post-emergent herbicides depend on the time of year and location. Post-emergent herbicides work well when applied prior or the early half of spring. The smaller the weed the faster and easier you can control it. Do not be dismayed if you still see these pesky weeds in your turf for several applications may be necessary to kill it. At any point in the season it is recommended to check the weather forecast for rainfall. Allow for at least 48 hours without rain before applying a post-emergent herbicide as some products cannot withstand rain or can be washed off the treated area.

Early Spring- Inspect your lawn for winter debris and any visible sings of weeds such as discoloration, brown patches, or any plants that are growing in a undesirable location. During this time period is when small sprouts of weeds are beginning to emerge in your turf. One application in the early months of spring is necessary to control the number of weeds emerging over the next several months. Take a look at our weed control articles if you need help identifying the weed in your yard or contact a trained Solutions Professional if you are not sure it is a weed.

Late Spring- In the middle of late spring to summer, reapplication of a post-emergent herbicide is necessary. Before application, do not mow your yard for three days as some post-emergent herbicides recommend this. The night prior to application, water your treatment area to ensure the post-emergent herbicide sticks to the weeds leaves. You can also apply in the early morning when foliage is still covered in dew.

Fall- One last application may be made before the ground becomes frozen. After you have mowed for the last time in the fall season apply your post-emergent herbicide. Applying in the fall is crucial as this will help control annual weeds from germinating in the following spring.

How to Apply Post-Emergent Herbicides

Post-emergent herbicides are typically applied in a type of sprayer, hand pump, or spreader. Depending on the size of the treatment area and its location will determine the method to use for post-emergent herbicide application. For large scale areas we recommend using a broadcast treatment and a spot treatment for controlling specific or small areas in your yard. Some liquid post-emergent herbicides may be mixed with a surfactant.

A surfactant (also known as a wetting agent or spreader/sticker) is a type of chemical additive that acts as a buffer, breaking up the surface tension of a liquid. In weed control products, surfactants added to the solution to help the product stick to the sprayer surface better and is used to help breakdown the plants resistance in absorbing the chemical being applied to it.

Our go to post-emergent herbicide is MSM Turf Herbicide which covers up to 43,560 sq. ft. of area (1 acre). This is a type of herbicide that may be mixed with a surfactant like Nanotek Surfactant.

Calculate the square footage of your yard (measure and multiply length x width) and then input the appropriate amount of MSM Turf Herbicide in a pump sprayer or hose-end sprayer, mixed with water. Add surfactant to the MSM Turf Herbicide mixture at a rate of 1 fl. oz. per gallon of the solution and agitate until well mixed.

Apply the MSM Turf Herbicide solution to the targeted weed on a fan tip nozzle spray setting to spray a fine mist that will evenly coat the weed. Noticeable results occur in 1 to 3 weeks.

Depending on the mix rates for your selected post-emergent herbicide, you will typically take half the amount of measured water and add into your sprayer of choice, add the appropriate amount of post-emergent herbicide, then fill the rest of the way in sprayer with water. Agitate well until spray mixture is even then apply to weed.